Improvement in portable tents



E. B. GILDERSLEEVE.

Portable-Tents.

Patented my 7,1874.

UNITED ,STATES i PATENT vCirrrefr.,

EZRA` B. GILDERSLEEVE, OF VVADING RIVER, NEY YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE TENTS.

Speciiication forming partoi'Letiers Patent No. 152,739, dated July 7,1874; application filed August 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EZRAB. G-ILDERSLEEVE, of Vading River, Suffolk county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Tents, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to a portable tent g and consists of a central standard or pole, the base of which is provided with a folding' tripod, upon which the standard may be rotated, and above which is placed a cog-wheel, operated by a crank, and engaging a pendent rack-bar, the upper end of which is fixed to a circular rest, serving to sustain the supports of a series of radial arms pivoted into an upper collar, with which the rest is connected by a vertical strip. An awning or canvas, having at its center an aperture, is, placed over the upper collar, and covers the arms thereof when expanded.

The object of the invention is to provide a portable tent that can be revolved, and is capable of being easily transported, or of havin g its height increased or diminished.

Figure lis a view of the device with the arms extended, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a representation showing one of the arms R `when lowered, and other parts; Fig. 3 is a view ofthe tripod A. Fig. 4 is a view of the rest I.

A, in the accompanying drawings, is a folding tripod, consisting of the legs a, pvoted on the ears b ofthe seat d, and arranged to fold inward; but when expanded, the upper parts oi' their inner ends coming in contact with the seat of the tripod, serves to retain them in a supporting position. Above the ears b the seat d is provided with an annular ledge, e, which serves to sustain the cylinder D, which i'orms the base of the standard E, and lits smoothly over the upper part of the seat cl in such manner that the cylinder may be rotated,

the upper part of the tripod being provided with the apex p, which, when the standard is placed in position, enters the recess n in the -base thereof. `At a suitable distance above the cylinder D the standard E is provided with a rigidly-secured band, F, having the horizontal ears f, between which is placed the gearwheel g, working in bearings in the ears f, its teeth engaging the rack-bar H, which depends from the band L on the rest I, parallel to the standard E, and between the ears f. The restI consists of a at piece of material, having the radial apertures h upon its periphery to receive the arms and supports when they are folded, and also the indentations c' to receive the lower ends of and to sustain the supports when the arms are expanded. The rest I is secured upon the movable cylinder L, which ts smoothly` upon the standard E, having the ratchet H aforesaid, and upon, its upper edge the vertical strip M, connecting it with the movable band or cylinder N, fitting smoothly 4upon the standard at a proper distance above the cylinder L. The collar P is secured about the cylinder N, and has the radial apertures Z upon its periphery, in which are pivoted the upper ends ofthe arms R, on the inner side of which and at a proper place are pivoted the supports T. The standard E extends above the collar P a suitable distance. The canvas Vis provided at the center of its top piece with the aperture m, the diameter of the aperture being lessf than that of the collar P. The extension of the standard above the collar projects through the aperture m, and thc canvas is sustained by the collar when the arms R are folded, or by both collar and arms when the latter are expanded.

The canvas may be made in any desired form" to suit the arrangement of the arms R- as with a circular top and side fringe, as in the present instance, or with a halt` circular or angular top piece, the side curtain or fringe being attached to the edges of the top piece.

The collar P may be made in the form of any section of a circle, or with straight edges or curved, the aperture m being placed accordingly in the proper position to hold `the canvas upon the extension of the standard E above the collar P.

To erect the tent, fold the arms R place the extension of the standard E through the aperture m in the canvas V; expand the folding tripod A; erect the standard upon the same by placing the cylinder D over the upper part of the seat of the tripod; expand the arms R; place the supports Tin the indentations i and elevate the rest I, collar P, arms R, and canvas V to the desired height by rotating the gear-wheel g.

It is obvious that by the operation of the gear-wheel and rack-bar the tent can be manipulated as follows: By lowering the canvas the dimensions ofthe tent are contracted, thus permitting it to be readily warmed, and rendering it less liable to the action of the wind; or, if desired to cool the atmosphere of the tent, the canvas can be elevated, forming a more health y shelter. If no side or wall curtains are used the device can be formed into a screen by raising, or a shelter telit by lowering, the canvas.

All of the above results can be effected within the tent, thus avoiding exposure of its inmates.

Should the canvas become torn or misplaced it can readily be replaced by lowering it to an accessible position.

The tent may be rotated by simply turning the standard.

The arms R may be inclined at any desired angle by changing the position of the indent ations v/Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The standard E, provided with the cylinder D and recess u, in combination with the folding tripod A, provided with the annular ledge e and apex p, substantially as and for the uses and purposes shown and described.

2. The collar I), provided with the arms It and supports T, which are disconnected at their lower extremities, in combination with the colla-r I, substantially as shown and described.

3. The rack-bar H and wheel g, for the purpose of elevating or lowering the devices sustaining the canvas V, substantially as shown and specified. l

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvements in portable tents, as above de scribed, I have hereunto set inyhand and seal this 5th day of August, 1873.

EZRA BBEWSTER GILDERSLEEVE. [n s] Witnesses WILLIAM DENNING, J. T. BROWN. 

